10 votes

Coco vs “forcing diversity"

11 comments

  1. [4]
    Eylrid
    Link
    I like his analogy of name brand versus cheap knock offs. It's an important distinction between cultural celebration and cultural appropriation. Going deep into a culture to celebrate it for what...

    I like his analogy of name brand versus cheap knock offs. It's an important distinction between cultural celebration and cultural appropriation. Going deep into a culture to celebrate it for what it is is a good thing. Making a hollow mockery of it isn't.

    11 votes
    1. [3]
      Catt
      Link Parent
      I really liked that analogy too, and he made lots of good points about how you don't necessarily need diversity behind the scenes to make a culturally good movie.

      I really liked that analogy too, and he made lots of good points about how you don't necessarily need diversity behind the scenes to make a culturally good movie.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        alopex
        Link Parent
        I kind of agree with you but I also feel like hiring people who actually have knowledge of the culture you're trying to portray on screen is super important. His mention of the director not being...

        I kind of agree with you but I also feel like hiring people who actually have knowledge of the culture you're trying to portray on screen is super important. His mention of the director not being Latino was tempered with the fact that he did bring on a Latino co-director, however, an entirely Latino film crew isn't exactly diverse unless your only definition of diverse is non-white, haha.

        7 votes
        1. Catt
          Link Parent
          I feel about the same. I really appreciate it when a piece of work is really well researched and an obvious amount of respect has been given to the source, but you can only go so far without...

          I feel about the same. I really appreciate it when a piece of work is really well researched and an obvious amount of respect has been given to the source, but you can only go so far without actually taking the input of someone from that group. Guess for me, what he's mention was more of a reminder not to dismiss works as quickly, as I probably would have.

          1 vote
  2. [3]
    Catt
    Link
    His experience watching Coco, sounds a lot like mine watching Kung Fu Panda (as a Chinese-Canadian).

    His experience watching Coco, sounds a lot like mine watching Kung Fu Panda (as a Chinese-Canadian).

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      39hp
      Link Parent
      Going to be seeing Crazy Rich Asians with some friends next week. Hopefully that scratches the itch for me.

      Going to be seeing Crazy Rich Asians with some friends next week. Hopefully that scratches the itch for me.

      2 votes
      1. Catt
        Link Parent
        I can't wait to see that too!

        I can't wait to see that too!

        1 vote
  3. [4]
    Petril
    Link
    I can't watch the video right now. Anyone care to sum up?

    I can't watch the video right now. Anyone care to sum up?

    1 vote
    1. [3]
      Catt
      Link Parent
      Going off memory (and paraphrasing with my words, since I don't remember his exactly) because I'm out of data. He basically covers the following: He's of Mexican heritage and liked Coco. There's...

      Going off memory (and paraphrasing with my words, since I don't remember his exactly) because I'm out of data. He basically covers the following:

      • He's of Mexican heritage and liked Coco. There's details such as the colour of gates/doors in the movie that are exactly his own
      • Quick mention of another Mexican themed movie "The Book of Life", and how it's a bit odd that people have to compare the two because they're both Mexican and about death or something
      • Diversity for the sake of diversity - example of just subbing in a person of colour, but honestly that role can be played by literally anyone
      • How you don't need diversity behind the scenes necessarily to create a culturally good movie
      • Types of diversity we see - example of movies with Coco that tells a story of another
        people, verses something like Hamilton that has a diverse cast telling a story.
      • How it's not enough just to applaud diversity in movie making, so it's not about just supporting a female or non-white director. We should be supporting works because they're good.

      (Hopefully I didn't totally butcher his video. It really is much better than I feel I'm describing it...)

      7 votes
      1. [2]
        Petril
        Link Parent
        Interesting! I was wondering if it was going to be about Coco forcing diversity, and I felt sad because I loved that movie! Were they saying that "subbing in a person of color" is bad? I guess I...

        Interesting! I was wondering if it was going to be about Coco forcing diversity, and I felt sad because I loved that movie! Were they saying that "subbing in a person of color" is bad? I guess I can see where it could be bad if all, say, black people in movies were just a person with brown skin reading lines made for a white person? I don't know. I'm going to stop talking now.

        I'll have to make some time to watch it later. Thanks for taking the time!

        3 votes
        1. Catt
          Link Parent
          It is a bit click-baity and honestly why I originally watched it :P I don't think so, more that it's a superficial way to be "diverse".

          I was wondering if it was going to be about Coco forcing diversity...

          It is a bit click-baity and honestly why I originally watched it :P

          Were they saying that "subbing in a person of color" is bad?

          I don't think so, more that it's a superficial way to be "diverse".

          2 votes